BOD Dissolved Oxygen Study for Capped vs. Uncapped Bottles

Application Bulletin # 5

Introduction:

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects on the Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.) of a sample if it was left open to the atmosphere, and compare this to a sample that was immediately capped after dilution water was added (commonly referred to as Initials) then to repeat this study for the same samples after 5 days of incubation (commonly referred to as Finals).

A series of samples were studied:

Blank (dilution water only)

15ml Seed (Polyseed) + dilution water

6ml Glucose/ Glutamic Acid (GGA) + dilution water

12ml Glucose/ Glutamic Acid + dilution water

Conforms to: Standard Method 5210B 20th & 21st Edition, EN 1899-1

Sample: Treated and Untreated water samples

Equipment:

YSI 5100 D.O. Meter

YSI 5905 D.O. Probe

Procedure:

The D.O. meter was calibrated using the air saturated method and the D.O. meter’s Auto-calibration feature.

D.O. measurement with bottles uncapped:

Fill bottle with required solutions to reflect sample being studied (see above) to the neck of the BOD bottle

Measure the D.O. until reading is stable (determined by the meter), and record.

Remove the probe and store in a BOD storage bottle (containing 1” of water in the bottom)

Leave the bottle uncapped for 5 minutes and repeat.

This was repeated for a total of 60 minutes for each sample type analyzed.

D.O. measurement with bottles capped:

Fill bottle with required solutions to reflect sample being studied (see above) to the neck of the BOD bottle

Measure the D.O. until reading is stable (determined by the meter), and record.

Remove the probe and store in a BOD storage bottle (containing 1” of water in the bottom)

Cap the bottle and leave for 5 minutes and repeat.

This was repeated for a total of 60 minutes for each sample type analyzed

Figure 1: Blank Initials

Figure 2: Blank Finals

Figure 3: Seed Initials

Figure 4: Seed Finals

Figure 5: 6ml GGA Initials

Figure 6: 6ml GGA Finals

Figure 7: 12ml GGA Initials

Figure 8: 12ml GGA Finals

Table 1: Summary of DO data with Delta DO

Conclusion:

From this study, it is evident that leaving a bottle open to the atmosphere will have insignificant effects on the DO of the sample. The DO measurements for uncapped versus capped bottles is virtually the same (identical in one case) and the delta DO after an hour is insignificant, close to zero or exactly zero.

When running an automated system, a rack of 24 bottles will typically take 35 minutes for initial reads (based on the system automating addition of seed, inhibitor for CBOD and dilution water), and 20 minutes for final reads. This is significantly less than the hour time period in which this study was performed, therefore, any observed differences in the measurements will be even less than that listed in Table 1.

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